Image copyrightTim BuglerImage caption
George Cochrane was ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work

A man who dangled a baby by the neck of his hooded jacket while the child was still strapped in his pushchair has been given a community sentence.

George Cochrane had been told by a sheriff at a previous court hearing that prison was "almost inevitable".

The 27-year-old was ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work.

Sheriff William Gilchrist said jailing Cochrane, who had already spent three weeks in custody on remand, would serve "no useful purpose".

Cochrane previously admitted assaulting the child and behaving towards him in a threatening and abusive manner in Grangemouth last year.

He was also placed under supervision for two years and ordered to undertake anger management and alcohol counselling.

Turned blue

Stirling Sheriff Court was told previously that the combined weight of the child and his buggy pressing on his windpipe began to choke the baby, who turned blue in the face.

Cochrane had been annoyed at the baby crying and had sworn at him.

Prosecutor Matthew Kerr said the incident was witnessed by two people.

Sentencing Cochrane, Sheriff Gilchrist told him: "The charges to which you pled guilty did not involve any allegation of injury, but that does not reduce their seriousness, considering they involved a very young infant boy.